In a move that has sent shockwaves through the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers have reportedly decided to part ways with kicker Jake Moody, ending a tumultuous tenure marked by inconsistency and missed opportunities. The decision, finalized ahead of the 2025 NFL roster cutdown deadline on August 26, comes after a string of high-profile miscues in the preseason, culminating in a missed extra point and an errant kickoff out of bounds in the 49ers’ finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on August 23, 2025. This marks a stunning reversal for a franchise that invested heavily in Moody, selecting him with the 99th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft—a rare third-round selection for a kicker.
A Promising Start Derailed by Inconsistency
Jake Moody entered the NFL with high expectations. A standout at Michigan, where he won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker in 2021, Moody was seen as a cornerstone for the 49ers’ special teams. General Manager John Lynch justified the high draft pick by emphasizing the importance of a reliable kicker in the team’s tightly contested games. As a rookie in 2023, Moody showed promise, converting 84% of his field goal attempts and 60 of 61 extra points, though his playoff performance raised eyebrows with a missed field goal in each of the 49ers’ three postseason games, including a critical extra point in the Super Bowl.
The 2024 season, however, was a turning point. An ankle injury in Week 5 sidelined Moody for four weeks, and upon his return, his performance plummeted. He missed three field goals in a single game against Tampa Bay and struggled in adverse conditions, notably going 2-for-6 in the final three games of the season. His 70.6% field goal conversion rate in 2024 ranked 29th in the NFL, a far cry from the reliability the 49ers had hoped for. Despite a brief moment of redemption with a game-winning 44-yard field goal against Tampa Bay, Moody’s inconsistency drew criticism from fans and teammates alike, including a heated sideline confrontation with Deebo Samuel.
Preseason Struggles Seal Moody’s Fate
The 2025 preseason was make-or-break for Moody, who faced competition from veteran kicker Greg Joseph. Despite early reports of a tight battle, the 49ers released Joseph on August 4, 2025, a decision that stunned observers given Joseph’s slightly better performance in training camp (22-of-24 field goals compared to Moody’s 21-of-24). Head Coach Kyle Shanahan cited roster constraints due to injuries as the reason for cutting Joseph, expressing confidence in Moody’s talent. “He’s been kicking the ball really well,” Shanahan said at the time, though many saw the move as a reluctance to admit a draft mistake.
Moody’s preseason performance did little to justify that faith. While he delivered a dramatic 59-yard game-winning field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders on August 16, 2025, his overall showing was marred by inconsistency. He missed a 53-yard attempt in the same game, barely converted a 26-yard chip shot, and struggled in practice, missing kicks from 47 and 53 yards. The final straw came in the preseason finale against the Chargers, where Moody hooked a 33-yard extra point left and sent a kickoff eight yards out of bounds, handing the Chargers prime field position. The home crowd’s sarcastic cheers and boos underscored the growing frustration with the young kicker.
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer praised Moody’s “moxie” after the Raiders game, suggesting the 59-yarder could be a career-defining moment. However, the subsequent misses against the Chargers erased any lingering optimism. “I know he missed an extra point today, which definitely doesn’t make us happy,” Shanahan said post-game, hinting at the decision that would soon follow.
A Difficult but Necessary Decision
The 49ers’ reluctance to move on from Moody stemmed from their significant draft investment. Selecting a kicker in the third round—a move not seen since 2016—put immense pressure on both Moody and the front office to succeed. Critics argued that the team’s loyalty was less about faith in Moody’s potential and more about avoiding embarrassment for a questionable draft choice. Unlike tight end Cam Latu, another 2023 third-round pick who was cut after one season due to poor performance, Moody was given multiple chances to prove himself.
However, the mounting evidence of Moody’s unreliability became impossible to ignore. His misses in critical moments, coupled with the availability of proven veteran kickers, forced the 49ers’ hand. The team’s decision to cut Moody signals a willingness to prioritize winning over ego, a departure from their earlier hesitation. As one source close to the team put it, “Results are all that matter in professional football. Moody’s a good kid with a strong leg, but we can’t afford to keep rolling the dice.”
What’s Next for the 49ers?
With Moody’s departure, the 49ers are actively exploring options to bolster their kicking game ahead of the regular season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on September 7, 2025. Several veteran kickers remain unsigned, including Matt Prater, Eddy Pineiro, Michael Badgley, Zane Gonzalez, Austin Seibert, and Cade York. Additionally, the roster cutdown period, concluding on August 26, 2025, is expected to yield more options, such as the loser of the Carolina Panthers’ kicking competition between Matthew Wright—who went a perfect 8-for-8 for the 49ers in 2024—and rookie Ryan Fitzgerald, or the Indianapolis Colts’ battle between Spencer Shrader and Maddux Trujillo. There’s also speculation that the 49ers could revisit Greg Joseph, whose familiarity with the team could make for a seamless transition.
The 49ers’ special teams unit, already undergoing significant changes with the release of their punter and long snapper, now faces the challenge of integrating a new kicker under tight timelines. The team’s Super Bowl aspirations hinge on close games, where a reliable kicker can make the difference between victory and defeat. For a franchise that has come agonizingly close to a championship in recent years, this move underscores a commitment to addressing weaknesses decisively.
A Cautionary Tale
Jake Moody’s exit from San Francisco serves as a reminder of the risks of investing high draft capital in a position as volatile as kicker. While his collegiate accolades and powerful leg suggested a bright future, the pressures of the NFL exposed his inconsistencies. The 49ers’ decision to move on, though painful, reflects a broader lesson about cutting losses when the evidence demands it. As the team prepares for the 2025 season, the focus will shift to finding a kicker who can deliver when it matters most, leaving the Moody era as a cautionary tale in the pursuit of NFL glory.
